Hat clasp



Sept. 27, 1955 K, F. WAGNER HAT CLASP Filed Nov. 18, 19 55 INVENTOR. HA776' E WAG/V51? BY (340%, M r 1 flrranwsrs' UnitedStates Patent2,718,893 HAT CLASP Katie F. Wagner, Kenmore, N. Y. Application November18, 1953, Serial No. 392,861 Claims. (Cl. 132-64) This invention relatesgenerally to fastening devices for securing a womans hat in place on thehead, and

,more specifically to a new and useful hat clasp designed to replace theconventional hat pin.

For years women have held their hats in place with hat pins of the typecomprising a relatively long, heavy and sharply pointed pin which isjammed through the hat and through the hair with the sharply pointed endexposed. Such pins injure and destroy the hat material, and also presenta safety hazard because of the exposed pointed end. However, I am awareof no other fastening device which has been sufiiciently satisfactory toachieve any significant degree of success, and while fasteners such asbobby pins sometimes have been resorted to they are not satisfactory inthat, for example, they do not have a pleasing appearance, they do notprovide good securing action and they tend to weaken as they are used.

Accordingly, a primary object of my invention is to provide a hat claspwhich will securely hold a hat on the head, will not damage the hat, andwill not injure the wearer or other persons who might come into contacttherewith.

A further object of my invention is to provide a hat clasp having astrong securing or anchoring action without undue bulging or bunching ofhat and hair, and which is compact and closely fits the head when used.

Another object of my invention is to provide a hat clasp having apleasing appearance so as to be suitable for wearing on any occasionwith any costume.

It is also an object of my invention to provide a practical hat clasp offew parts which can be readily fabricated by conventional means so as tobe relatively inexpensive and which is durable and reliable in use.

A hat clasp according to my invention is characterized by the provisionof upper andlower leg members pivotally connected adjacent one endthereof to provide relatively small finger tab portions and elongateopposed jaw portions, means biasing the jaw portions toward each other,the jaw portions each carrying teeth directed toward the other, thelower leg member being of greater length than the upper with its jawportion extending therebeyond and being slightly curved to follow theoutline of the head.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of a hat clasp accordingto my invention will become readily apparent from the ensuing detaileddescription, taken together with the accompanying drawing forming a partthereof wherein:

Fig. 1 is a view showing the manner in which a hat is fastened in placeby a hat clasp according to any invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of one embodiment of a hat claspaccording to my invention;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the hat clasp of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken about on line IV-IV of Fig.2; and

Fig. 5 is a view in side elevation of another embodiment of a hat claspaccording to my invention.

Referring now to Fig. l and to the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 2, 3and 4, a hat clasp according to my invention, generally designated 1,comprises a lower leg member 2 and an upperleg member 3, leg member 2being placed through the hair 4 and leg member 3 fitting over the hat 5,as illustrated in Fig. 1, with the two leg members cooperating as willbecome apparent to secure the hat in place on the head.

Leg members 2 and 3 preferably comprise unitary members formed of asuitable material such as metal, although plastics and possibly othermaterials could be used. The leg members are preferably cut out, as at6, to lighten the clasp and reduce to a minimum the amount of materialused therein, and the cut out portions 6 on the upper leg member 3,which leg member is exposed to view can comprise an ornamental design toenhance the appearance of the clasp. v

Leg members 2 and 3 are each formed adjacent one end thereof withinturned tabs 2' and 3, respectively, which tabs are apertured inalignment to receive a connecting pivot pin 7, whereby leg members 2 and3 are pivotally connected adjacent one end thereof with said one endforming relatively short finger tabs 8 and 9, re

spectively, for convenience in opening the clasp. The leg.

member portions on the opposite side of the pivot thus comprise jaws.Finger tab 9 can also be formed to provide a setting for a real orsimulated precious or semiprecious stone or other ornament, as shown at10, to further enhance the appearance of the clasp.

A coil spring 11 is fitted around pin 7 and bears at its opposite endsagainst finger tabs 8 and 9 for biasing the jaw portions of leg members2 and 3 toward each other whereby the clasp is constantly urged towardclosed position.

The lower leg member 2 is adapted to fit through the hair beneath thehat, and is formed adjacent the outer end of its jaw portion with aseries of teeth 12 which are inclined or directed inwardly toward thefinger tabs 8 and 9, the teeth extending inwardly along said jaw portionfor a distance suflicient to provide a good anchoring action in thehair.

whereby to follow the natural contour or curvature of the head andprovide a clasp which fits the head snugly with a neat and compactappearance, which gives a maximum anchoring action, and which avoids anydiscomfort to the wearer.

The jaw portion of leg member 3 and preferably also the finger tab 9 aresimilarly curved in substantial paral lelism with leg member 2, whicharrangement provides for maximum compactness and neatness. Thejawportion of leg member 3 is formed, in a manner similar to leg member 2,with a series of downturned teeth 13 designed to engagethe hat anddesigned to intermesh with the teeth 12 of leg member 2 where theyoverlap.

In addition, it is a particular feature of a hat clasp according to myinvention that the lower leg member jaw portion extends substantiallybeyond the upper leg member jaw portion, such extension being, forexample, a third of the length of the upper jaw portion and therefore ofa significant nature and being of considerable impor- 'l tance inproviding a better anchoring action by reason of v the greater length ofthe lower jaw portion and in avoiding lumping and bulging at the outerterminal ends of the jaw r portions. Thus, with this feature ahat claspaccording to my invention providesa maximum anchoring action takingplace over a considerable extent with the lower jaw portion teethentwining with the hair to secure the clasp therein and with the upperjaw teeth engaging the hat to secure the same to the clasp, all withoutunduebunching Patented Sept. 27, 1955 Teeth 12 are preferably formedalong the side edges of leg member 2, as by 1.3. of hat and hair, asdistinguished from fastening devices of the type having jaw portions ofsubstantially equal length with one or two teeth at the ends thereof anddesigned to .pinch and*thus :clip-together several: pieces of materialat-wone .p oint;

If desired, the extent. of teeth 12 ontlegmember-2 can beshortened-toavoid-overlapping withteeth 13 of leg..member 3, as-illustrated in Fig.1 5 Whereinthe-leg membersareof thesame. length buttheteeth 12. are

formed only on that part of leg member. 2 which extendsbeyond.leg-.member 3. This construction retains the features of theembodimentof Figs. 2 through 4 while furtheravoiding any possibilityofbunching andprovides asstronganchoring action, and may bezpreferable for some typesof hair orv ofhatmaterialorwhere maximum simplicityis desired.

In .operation, theclasp is easily fitted. in place by pressing.finger..tabs 8 and. 9. together to open the jaws and sliding the.lowerzleg member. 2into'thehair and the upperlegrnember 3.over the hatuntil the brim.of;the hatisrsubstantially at the pivot 7. The pressureon finger tabs 8.and 9is-thenreleased and the jaw ofleg member 3 is.biasedtoward-leg. member 2by-spring 11, causing teeth 13.10 bearagainst:thehat to prevent thesamefrom slippingoutof the clasp while teeth 12engage the hair to prevent the clasp from slippingttherefrom andanchorthe same thereto.

It will beappreciated that teeth. 12 and 13 do not pierce thehat and.thereby this undesirable characteristic of a conventional hat pin isavoided. At. the same time, an extremely strong securingaction isprovided by reason of the extended lower jaw portion with its inwardlydirected teeth... Also, theclasp follows thenaturalv contour-of the headfor maximum comfort to thewearer andto provide an. extremely compact:and neat. appearance, and undue bunching of the hat and hair betweenthe jawsof the clasp is avoided. In addition, vthereare no pointed endsor.. other possibly injurious exposed parts. It will be appreciated thatin this particular art such considerations are-.of paramount importancein determining the acceptability of the product.

While. in the embodiments disclosed the ornamentation consists of thecut out design 6 andthe jewel 10, it will be appreciated that awidevariety of ornamentation could be utilized including, for example,embossed designs on the exposed surface, coven'ng theleg member 3 withfelt orother material'of different colors or-enameling the same'withdiiferent colors, and placing jewels along. the upper surface oflegmember 3.- The tab 9 can be jeweled, plain, fur-tipped, initialed, orhave any of a number of ornaments or designs thereon.

It will also be appreciated that while thepreferred form comprises metalstampings, the clasp can be made inother ways and of other materialssuch as, for example, plastic.

Also, while my clasp is specifically designed as a hat clasp, it is alsosuitable for securing veils and other articles in place. One or morehat. clasps can be used and in positions other than that illustrated inFig. 1, and because my hat clasp avoids sharply pointed ends and otherpossibly injurious features it can be safely used to secure hats onchildren in place of ribbons fastened to the hat and extending under thechin.

Therefore, it will be seen that my invention fully accomplishes theaforesaid objects. While certain embodiments have been illustrated indetaillhercin, it will be appreciated that the inventionis notnecessarily limited to such details, and I intend that my invention bedefined by the appended .claims.

Having'fully disclosed and completely described my invention,-what Iclaim as new is:

1. A'hat clasp comprising an elongated upper'leg-member-"and anelongated lower'leg member pivotally interconnected'adjacent one endthereof to provide relatively short-finger tab portions on'one side ofthe pivotalconnec tion therebetween and relatively long jaw portions onthe other side of said pivotal connection, said leg members beingpivoted for movement relative to each other about a transverse axis,said lower leg member being adapted to fit through the hair and beingcurved from one end thereof to the other to followthe contour of a headand said upper leg member jaw portion. being. curved in substantialparallelism with. said lower leg member and being adapted to overlie ahat, spring means biasing said jaw portions toward each other, the lowerleg member being of substantially;v greater length than the upper legmember, and.oppositely directed teeth carried by said upper and lower:leg. member jaw portions for-engaging the hat.

and the hair, respectively, whereby to secure the hat to the clasp andthe clasprtothe hair, at least someof the teeth on thelowerleg'memberbeing disposed beyond the end: of theruppervleg member.

2. A hat clasp comprising elongated upper and lower leg members, pivotmeans interconnecting said leg members adjacent one-end thereof toenable relative movement therebetween about a transverse axis anddefinerelatively short finger tab portions on one side of said pivot means andrelatively long jaw'portions on the other. side thereof, the lower jawportion being adapted to fit through the hair and the upper jaw portionbeing adapted to overlie thehat, .said lower legmember being curved fromone end thereof-to the other to follow-the contour of a head and theupper jaw portion having a curvature substantially corresponding to thatof the-lower jaw portion, spring meansbiasing said. leg memberjawportions toward each: other, the lower leg member being of substantiallygreater length than the upper leg member, and teeth carried by saidupper and lower jaw portions for engaging against the hat and in thehair, respectively, the teeth on said lower leg member jaw portion beingdirected rearwardly toward saidfinger tab portions to securely anchorthe clasp. in the hair, at least some of the teeth on the lowerlegmember beingdisposed beyond the end of the upper leg member.

3. A hat clasp for securing a hat in place on a head comprising, a pairof separate elongated leg members pivotally interconnected forrelativemovement about a transverseaxis, the pivotal connection between said legmembers being adjacent one end thereof to define *a pair of relativelyshort finger tabs on'one side of said pivotalconnection and a pair ofrelatively long jaws on. the other side thereof, one-of said leg membersbeing curvedtofollow the contour of a head with the jaw of said' onelegmember being elongated substantially beyond the jaw of the other legmember and being adapted to fit through the hair, the jaw of said otherleg member being similarly curved and adapted to overlie the hat, coilspring means biasing said jaws toward each other, and multiple teetharranged along both of said jaws with theteeth on each jaw beingdirected generally'toward the other jawfor engaging in the hair andagainst the hat, the teeth of said one leg member jaw being directedrearwardly toward said finger tabs for securely anchoring. the clasp inthe hair while the teeth of said other leg member jaw anchor the hat tothe clasp.

4. A hat clasp as set forth in claim 3, wherein said teeth are arrangedalong the outer end portions of said jaws and the teeth of one of saidjaws overlap andintermeshed with the other of said jaws.

5. Ahat clasp as set forth in claim 3, wherein the teeth on said one legmember jaw are formed only on the portion thereof extending beyond saidother leg member jaw.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,083,614 McPhee June 15, 1937 2,317,207 Marck Apr. 20, 1943 2,510,554Christie June 6, 1950

